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1970' s FIRST CHALLENGE 

 by Bob Anderson 

 Ehainnan Program & Research Cominlttee 



The year 1970 comes in with a roar 

 and some definite challenges for your 

 State Association. Supervisors approved 

 some plans during our State Convention 

 and your officers are moving now to 

 carry out these plans. 



Purchase of the Bridger Plant 

 Material Center is a primary task for us 

 to accomplish early this year. We 

 have encountered some problems which I 

 will briefly report. First, since a 

 combination of districts from two states 

 wishes to hold title to property, it seems 

 essential that a corporation must be 

 formed. A special corporation to handle 

 only this purchase would do the job, 

 however it is the judgment of your 

 directors, that your Montana Association 

 of Districts should be incorporated, 

 with the powers to handle this and all 

 anticipated jobs of the future. The 

 incorporating procedure takes time and 

 costs money. Your State Association 

 s a private organization not a state 

 gency, and as such, it is not able 

 to obtain free legal counsel. We have 

 therefore hired an attorney and will 

 proceed with all possible speed and at 

 the least possible cost. 



conduct the affairs of your State Associa- 

 tion in a business like manner. 



We will face many more problems 

 relative to help and finance in the 

 near future. Our decisions could well 

 shape the future and effectiveness of 

 Conservation Programs in this State. I 

 hope and believe that your directors 

 will meet the challenges of 1970. 



*** 

 Carl Johnson 

 PRESIDENT SEZ cont'd 



Districts must plan well for better 

 utilization of our natural resources. 

 They must seek cooperation of any and 

 all people, and coordinate their efforts 

 in order that this task can be accomp- 

 lished. 



The plan of action as outlined by 

 resolutions at the State Convention 

 in Bozeman can only be fulfilled by , 

 the united and concerted efforts of all 

 districts in Montana. 



1 



May I take this opportunity to 

 thank the district supervisors for their 

 help and guidance this past year. May 

 I also ask for this same help and guidance 

 in the year to come? May I also wish you 

 a "MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEARl" 



Yes, we have other problems. You, 

 as Individual districts, can use tax 

 money to buy land. Your State Associa- 

 tion, being a private organization, cannot 

 legally receive tax money for this pur- 

 pose. We might get by, assessing 

 extra dues, but I believe that we would 

 do better to use our own private district 

 funds. You can raise the money for this 

 worthwhile project if you just try . 



The actual contract terms of pur- 

 chase and leasing agreements still need 

 some work to arrive at something we can 

 all live with in the future. All this 

 %rlll mean a slight delay, however, haste 

 means waste, and time spent now in 

 considering various alternatives will 

 pay handsome dividends. Tour directors 

 are all successful business men in 

 Bheir own right and they desire to 



*** 



M. L. WILSON , first 

 Montana County Agent, 

 and originator of the 

 idea of Conservation 

 Districts, died Nov- 

 ember 22, in Wash- 

 ington, D. C. at the 

 age of 84. 



Wilson saw service 

 as a Montana State 

 College professor. 

 Under Secretary of 

 Agriculture 1934 to 



1940, and Director of Federal Extension 



Service 1940 - 1953. 



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